How Can We Accelerate Maternal Vaccination Globally?

by Kate Fay, Michelle J Groome, Hellen Barsosio, Anna C Seale

New maternal vaccines could reduce infant deaths at and after birth, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Work is underway to prepare for new maternal vaccines globally, and the Maternal Immunization Readiness Network for Africa and Asia will support in-country preparation in several low- and middle-income countries. However, the impact of new maternal vaccines will only be realized with supportive policy recommendations and sufficient financing for the development of maternal immunization platforms.

24th April 2025 • comment

To evaluate descriptive efficacy data, exploratory immunogenicity data, and safety follow-up through study completion from the global, phase 3 MATISSE (Maternal Immunization Study for Safety and Efficacy) maternal vaccination trial of bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein vaccine (RSVpreF).

1st January 2025 • comment

To describe preterm birth frequency and newborn and infant outcomes overall and among preterm children in the MATISSE (Maternal Immunization Study for Safety and Efficacy) trial of maternal vaccination with bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine (RSVpreF) to protect infants against severe RSV-associated illness.

1st January 2025 • comment

The objective was to determine whether initiating tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) at gestational week 16 combined with HBV vaccinations for infants is noninferior to the standard care of TDF at gestational week 28 combined with HBV vaccinations and HBIG for infants in preventing MTCT in mothers with HBV and high levels of viremia. Among pregnant women with HBV and high levels of viremia, TDF beginning at gestational week 16 combined with HBV vaccination for infants was noninferior to the standard care of TDF beginning at gestational week 28 combined with HBIG and HBV vaccination for infants. These results support beginning TDF at gestational week 16 combined with infant HBV vaccine to prevent MTCT of HBV in geographic areas where HBIG is not available.

3rd December 2024 • comment

The authors conducted a phase 3 trial involving pregnant women 18 to 49 years of age to assess the efficacy and safety of RSVPreF3-Mat. The results of this trial, in which enrollment was stopped early because of safety concerns, suggest that the risks of any and severe medically assessed RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease among infants were lower with the candidate maternal RSV vaccine than with placebo but that the risk of preterm birth was higher with the candidate vaccine.

4th April 2024 • comment

Whether vaccination during pregnancy could reduce the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory tract illness in newborns and infants is uncertain.

1st April 2023 • comment